So Chanel unveiled their beauty look for the catwalk as designed and by Creative Director of Chanel Beauty, Peter Philips.

With such statement hair, it’s no wonder the makeup was kept simple and contemporary. Philips was given a simple brief by the big boss Lagerfeld, “Blue” and “Make sure they don’t look like stewardesses“… this instruction was because the collection itself was airline inspired. And so didn’t want to take the inspiration literally by throwing models out there looking like Britney Spears in the Toxic video!

While the models hair was pinned up in a funky “do”, the eyes were rimmed with a soft kohl look using some of Philips’ own shades of shadow, while the rest of the face was kept simply flawless.

Philips created a collection of new blue shades, named “Blue Illusion” to work with that will be available in July 2012 from selected retailers, so watch this space for more on that!

To see the full runway collection, visit: www.vogue.com

Rosita Shore Breen, Fashion & Beauty Writer

It used to be our designer bags that defined us. Then it was our shoes. And now, it’s our nails. Suddenly it is of the up most importance to keep your nails bang on, if not ahead of trends.

When autumn reared its chilly head, we lusted after dark polish’s like Chanel’s green-blue ‘Peridot’  to pair with our increasingly heavy layers and pale pallor. December brought f -f-f-freezing frost, along with festivities and a desire for sparkling nails to rival the fairy lights on our tree’s. For this look we turned to OPI’s fabulous glitter polishes.

But now that our evenings are getting a little longer and our fake fur  is getting less than a daily outing, we seek shades which will bring us closer to spring without screaming ‘summer colour’. Shades for the in-between season. Step forward neutral nudes and toffees.

For almost edible, soft toffee and caramel hints, try ‘ Lower Sloane Street’ by Nails Inc or ‘Barefoot in Barcelona’ by Opi. Or to add instant chic, we suggest a creamy, flesh coloured nude like ‘Brooch The Subject’ by Essie (above image).

Find neutral shades drab? Look down at your hands when wearing them. Notice how long, slender and sophisticated your fingers look?

Suddenly they are much more brilliant than boring!

What nail colour are you wearing during this ‘in-between’ season?

With the ringing in of the new year comes a slew of fragrance launches.  Particularly celebrity fragrances.  A fragrance seems to be the measure for when you’ve really made it.  Even Justin Beiber has a women’s fragrance.  Here’s a round up of the celebrities delving into the perfume business in the new year:

Lady Gaga:

Lady Gaga is concocting a fragrance which is to capture the scent of blood and semen. The blood element is said to have come from Lady Gaga herself and she has said the perfume smells like ‘an expensive hooker’.

Nicole Richie:

Ms. Richie has already conquered the fashion world so it’s no surprise she’s adding to her successful brand.  Her fragrance which she has stated will be a ’cool, classy scent with an edge’ is due to be released in September.

 Selena Gomez:

Justin Beiber’s lady love is set to launch her fragrance in spring of this year.  And she wants her fan’s opinion on what it should be like.  There’s even a website fans can go to to vote what should go into the mix: www.selenagomezperfumes.com 

Madonna:

The queen of pop’s fragrance is due out in April and is said to have been inspired by Holy Water.  Here’s what Madonna has said about the fragrance herself:

There is something primal and mystical about the sense of smell. It connects us to memory, nostalgia and the ability to dream and fantasize. I have always been obsessed by fragrance and for years wanted to create something personal that was an expression of me, but that other people could relate to as well. Something classical and timeless and yet modern. My oldest memory of my mother is her perfume. I carry it with me everywhere. She always smelled like Gardenias and Tuberose. An intoxicating mixture. Feminine and mysterious. I wanted to recreate this scent but with something fresh and new about it as well. Something honest and yet daring. Hence the name Truth or Dare. We can be tricked by what we see and what we hear but not by what we smell.

 Stella McCartney:

Though this will not be Stella McCartney’s first fragrance (that was in 2003), this one is a dedication to her late mother, Linda.  The fragrance is name L.I.L.Y which stands for Linda I Love You and is the nickname given to Linda by Stella’s father Paul.  The name is also a reference to the notes of Lily of the valley the perfume contains.

Jennifer Lilley, Fashion and Beauty Writer

The gorgeous Katy Perry is following in the footsteps of Girls Aloud and launching her own set of exclusive false lashes for Eylure.

A fan of falsies herself, Katy Perry wore Eylure lashes exclusively on her recent tour, which led to her developing the range. So we’re guessing that she knows what she’s talking about.

Having played a key role in the design of the four variety range, you can get even closer to the Katy Perry look as she is said to have incorporated her own personal style into each set.

She will have no time to dry her eyes following her recent break up from hubby Russell Brand as the lashes are hitting stores in February.

The latest product to go “On Trial” with ESVIE is Jason’s Apricot Hand & Body Lotion. We heard through the grapevine that this natural product from the JASON range will leave your skin feeling irresistibly smooth and supple. So of course we wanted to try it out for ourselves. Containing the number one beauty ingredient that hand model Gemma Howarth swears by, Almond Oil, we now understand why it is she who has replaced the hands of Kate Moss, Kylie, and Lily Cole in some of the most famous campaigns out there!

It’s important to keep your skin as healthy as your insides. No one likes rough, dry and at worst, cracked chapped skin. Especially during these hideous Winter months. You know when you get that awful catching on your woolly clothes…

So, with that in mind, we have spent some time using the Apricot Hand & Body Lotion, since it’s packed with Vitamin E and natural apricot and almond oils, which are famous for it’s skin smoothing properties. The apricot oil brightens and revives dull skin, whilst the nourishing almond oil instantly hydrates and soothes.

On the first application, my initial observation was how strong the scent of the cream. Apricot is beautiful, but must admit even this was a little too much at first, especially when applying the cream all over your body. Over time it did wear off, which I was grateful for since the cream itself glided on effortlessly and spread beautifully, meaning that you only need a small amount for it to go a long way… thus lasting longer!

My skin didn’t dry out through the course of the day. It felt strong and supple. Some moisturisers leave you feeling tacky, whereas this soaked in so well that you’d never know you’d applied it. PLUS, at just the tiny price of £6.99 you can’t go wrong!

I would definitely use this more, although due to the strong scent of the moisturiser, would maybe limit it to just my hands for now as opposed to all over: 7/10

For more info on JASON’s natural care products, visit: www.jasonnaturalcare.co.uk

Sabina Ventriglia

Artdeco Couture are always bringing out new products for you to add to your makeup bag. They have everything you need for your skin, hands, nails, feet and more importantly, they have the biggest range of cosmetics to paint your face with! They have counters being launched all over the UK in our favourite department stores, while their reputation is already HUGE across Europe, being compared to the likes of Chanel.

Not only that, but they have reigned the likes of shows such as Dancing on Ice and are a favourite amongst some of our favourite celebrities. So, if it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for us… right!

Their latest collections of GlamStars and Wild At Heart products are PERFECT for the New Years Eve party. Full of glitz, glamour and deep festive colours, you will wonder why you’ve not discovered them sooner.

You can even select your own favourite eye shadow and blusher shades to put into your very own designer compact to carry with you for those all important touch-ups. 

Artdeco Couture has real staying power when it comes to looking good all day and night… I use this beautiful brand on all of my clients, most importantly my brides, since that’s the day you wish to look your best until the last guest leaves.

Here are just a few products from their collection for you to feast your eyes on:

Visit: www.artdeco.de for more products and trends…

Jennifer Lilley – Fashion and Beauty Writer
www.beauboo.wordpress.com

A slick of lipstick can work wonders if you want to attract some attention to your pout, but the latest product to the market will definitely get people talking when your showcase your, polka dot, leopard print or glitter print to the town.

Since Jessie J performed on Britain’s Got Talent, tongues were wagging about her amazing Union Jack lips, which make up artists could create such a lasting, intricate look? Well ESVIE have found out that its a lot simpler than it looks and the answer lies with the creative American brand, Violent Lips, makers of the temporary lip tattoo.

And it’s not as scary as it sounds either! No needles involved. Just wet the transfer onto your lips as you say ‘Ahh,’ plus five minutes of drying and your personalised lips are complete.

As well as Violent Lips saying the transfers are easy to apply, they are also vitamin enhanced and will last between 4 and 8 hours. They are also easily removed with baby oil and a textures wipe.

The Violent Lip, lip tattoo appliques are now available at Sally (www.sallyexpress.com) and come in a pack of three priced at £10.99 pounds.

You heard it here at ESVIE, so be one of the first to step out on the town with these show stopping, lip prints in the new year.

A stark contrast to the young, new gothic lad that is Gareth Pugh, MAC have revealed their next collaborator is none other than Iris Apfel, the stylish socialite and businesswoman who, since 2005′s ‘Rara Avis: The Irreverent Iris Apfel’ exhibition in New York, has been the centre of attention among the fashion elite.

Iris and her husband ran a textiles business from 1950 to 1992, with Iris also working on design projects for American presidents and lecturing and consulting on style. Her eclectic and bold mix of jewellery and accessories has been an inspiration to bloggers and catwalks alike, and after her jewellery designs for website, yoox, make up appears to be her next venture.

The collection will include lipsticks, eye shadows and nail lacquers in her trademark bold colours, and will be available exclusively online from January 2012. Plus, the prices will range from £9-£14: a complete MAC bargain!

Gareth Pugh and Mac advert on YouTube

Sabina Ventriglia
Editor of ESVIE & Professional Makeup Artist

After publishing this on my personal blog, I felt it important to spread the word further… Hear me out.

Now I’ve always been one to promote fuller brows and to avoid over plucking. The simple reason being, that pencil thin brows can age you like you wouldn’t believe.

However saying that, it categorically does not mean you should therefore paint the most obscene stripes on your forehead!

Shade your brows with a soft pencil or shadow, yes.
Over do them with a shade too dark for your tones with a paintbrush, a definite NO.

I’m sorry, but this cannot become a new “fashion”. On the catwalk they may use such techniques, but the world of high fashion can get away with extreme beauty trends as the idea is to highlight features that will become the next season beauty ritual, or they are simply exaggerated for creative visual purposes; so painted brows on the catwalk, will mean shaded fuller brows on the pavement! See what I’m getting at?!

Jodie, the Scouse Brow culprit.

Clearly the Desperate Scousewives (E4) think they’re onto a winner. Even the lovely Colleen Rooney has made a fashion faux pas when she stepped out with her very own Scouse Brow. Even before it became apparent that this is the way forward in Liverpool, I didn’t like it and wondered what the hell she had done to herself. Although to be fair to her, they were passable if not still a little obvious.

It’s pretty simple really. Make your brows as full as you like, so long as the colour is soft. The minute you use a dense brow paint, it will all go horribly wrong. Trust me, I’m a professional. So let’s get #StopTheScouseBrow trending on Twitter NOW!

Leaves hair silky smooth without limpness

I think we can all agree winter has well and truly arrived. And with all those dramatic  changes in weather one thing really suffers. Namely our hair, which becomes dry and unmanageable.

If  you feel  a masque, on its own is not enough, try a pre-conditioning treatment. ‘Moroccanoil’ is a multifunctional product , which can be applied as a conditioner pre- or post-shampoo  or  as a styling aid on dry hair. It reduces frizz, deep conditions and protect against  further environmental stresses. Be it wind, rain or angry in-laws!